While he has not been involved in a car-deer accident, Morgan County Sheriff Randy Duvendack said his department reinforced its squad cars in recent years to lessen costly damage deer have inflicted.

“Our deputies on night patrol will see multiple deer on the roads,” Duvendack said. “On our squad cars, we now have push bars across the grill. The reason we did that was because about four years ago, in a short period of time, we had three squad cars get heavily damaged from striking deer. Now, with the push bars, it is rare we will have major damage to a car.”

Since January, the sheriff’s department has responded to 54 vehicle-deer accidents.

Duvendack is not surprised by new State Farm data that show Illinois drivers are nearly 4 percent more likely to collide with a deer this year than they were last year. The odds drivers will hit a deer in Illinois are 1 out of 192, below the national odds of 1 in 164.

Using its claims data and state licensed driver counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm estimated the state-by-state chances of a motorist striking a deer, elk or moose.

According to 2016 State Farm deer collisions data, Illinois is ranked 32nd in the country for the most deer collisions. The months a driver is most likely to collide with a deer in Illinois — mostly due to mating season — are June, October, November and December.

In 2013, 191 deaths were the result of collisions with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck, according to the Insurance Information Institute and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The following tips could help drivers avoid a collision: Pay attention to deer crossing signs; always buckle up; use your high beams, when possible; brake if possible, but avoid swerving, which could result in a more severe crash; remain focused on the road, scanning for hazards; avoid distractions, like devices or eating; do not rely on products such as deer whistles, which are not proven effective; and if riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear and focus on the road ahead.

And here are some deer facts that all drivers should know: Deer are on all roads; deer are unpredictable; deer often move in groups; and deer movement is most prevalent in the fall.

“Over the years, I’m aware of many vehicle-deer accidents in the Morgan County area, including some that proved fatal,” Duvendack said.

He said about five years ago, an elderly man driving on Illinois Route 78 died from injuries suffered in a car-deer accident and more recently, a motorcyclist died a few days after colliding with a deer on Arenzville Road.

“This time of year, it is vitally important for motorists to be aware of their surroundings because deer are active,” Duvendack said. “And then you throw in the harvest, and deer are being pushed out of fields. Motorists should especially be aware of deer at dusk and at night.”

Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg.